College Mourns the Loss of Martha O’Dell
Sherman College and the chiropractic profession have lost a faithful chiropractic supporter in Martha I. O’Dell of Garden City, MI. She was born on August 22, 1916, and passed away on September 3, 2017. Martha was the wife of the late Dr. Clair O’Dell, and mother of Kay (the late Dr. Doug) Alcott, Joan (George) Swistock, Dr. James (Diane) O’Dell and the late Dr. Roger O’Dell. She was a grandmother of 17, great-grandmother of 28 and great great grandmother of 13. Read the obituary.
In addition to being deeply devoted to her family, Martha O’Dell was also a chiropractic assistant and a staunch supporter of the profession, having studied in Palmer’s first class for CAs in 1936. The O’Dells faithfully supported Sherman and the chiropractic profession in many ways, including serving on Sherman’s Board of Regents since the program’s inception, as well as referring many students throughout the years. The couple also helped fund the E.C. Taylor (Health Center) Building. The O’Dells were married 74 years until Dr. Clair’s death in 2011.
The O’Dells are estimated to have influenced nearly 200 people to become doctors of chiropractic, including many members of their own family. Their chiropractic legacy includes their sons (both doctors of chiropractic), daughters (both chiropractic assistants), at least a dozen grandchildren and nearly 20 great-grandchildren.